BANGOR — Dawn Weber and Adrienne Savage of the Bangor Humane Society staff have attended a two-day seminar on Recognizing and Using Calming Signals taught by Norwegian canine behaviorist Turid Rugaas, in Debert, Nova Scotia. Their attendance at the seminar was made possible by a $2,000 grant to the society’s Shed and Emily Fund, made by Don and Paula Hanson, owners of the Green Acres Kennel Shop.

Calming signals are very specific body language used by dogs and wild canines to indicate when they are under stress. Dogs will use these signals with one another, with other animals and with people. By understanding calming signals, people are better equipped to take care of their dogs.

The shelter environment can be very stressful for many of the dogs in our care at the Bangor Humane Society. By better understanding calming signals and the stressors that affect dogs, it will be possible to help reduce their stress and, in turn, improve their chances of adoption.

Don Hanson, co-owner and director of behavior counseling and training at the Green Acres Kennel Shop will work with Dawn and Adrienne to create a training program on calming signals for humane society staff and volunteers.

Turid Rugaas has been working with people and their dogs for many years and has been studying canine body language for more than a decade. She lives and works in Norway where she owns and runs a dog training school, Hagen Hundeskole. Since the publication of her book, “On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals,” Rugaas has shared her knowledge at seminars around the world. She is one of the world’s experts on canine behavior.

The Shed and Emily Fund was established in 2003 by Don and Paula Hanson, owners of Green Acres Kennel Shop, as a living memorial to their border collie mix, Shed, and the humane society’s feline mascot, Emily. The fund was established to help relieve stress and stress-related behaviors and illnesses in pets cared for by the Bangor Humane Society. Donations to the Shed and Emily Fund are used specifically for the enrichment, training, socialization and behavior rehabilitation of the animals in the care of the shelter.

Jeff Mitchell is executive director of the Bangor Humane Society.